diff --git a/terminal.c b/terminal.c
index 31bb4d8a..f3a4b7d0 100644
--- a/terminal.c
+++ b/terminal.c
@@ -1082,7 +1082,11 @@ reload_fonts(struct terminal *term, bool resize_grid)
          * an a2r10g0b10 type of surface, since we need more than 2
          * bits for alpha.
          */
+#if defined(HAVE_PIXMAN_RGBA_16)
+        options->color_glyphs.format = PIXMAN_a16b16g16r16;
+#else
         options->color_glyphs.format = PIXMAN_rgba_float;
+#endif
     }
 
     struct fcft_font *fonts[4];